Transition to Modern America

1920-1929 Isolationism Immigration Red Scare Jazz Age Social Darwinism Eugenics Nativism Changing role of women Economic boom/ consumerism

Significant dates 1914-1918 – World War I U.S. becomes a member of an alliance system and begins to partake in global decisions 1929 – Stock Market Crash, beginning of the Great Depression U.S. becomes economically vulnerable Changing role of federal government in domestic economic policy

Significant Individuals Clarence Darrow – defense attorney in the Scopes “Monkey” Trial who debated the issue of evolution in Tennessee William Jennings Bryan – prosecuting attorney in the Scopes trial, leader in Populist movement Henry Ford – founder of Ford Motors, innovated the auto industry with the assembly line and invented the Model T and Model A cars, with an affordable price Glenn Curtiss – considered “The Father of Naval Aviation,” he was a pioneer in aviation Marcus Garvey – publisher, journalist, and Black Nationalist; founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League Charles Lindbergh – first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERNS The Great Migration of African Americans to the North (roughly 1910-1930) In this unit – The Great Migration was largely influenced by various push and pull factors. African Americans migrated to urban areas in northern states because of greater employment opportunities and better wages. States in the South had enacted laws that limited their rights including their right to vote. Cities like Chicago and Philadelphia saw a huge increase in their African American population.

CAUSES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 1920S Stock Market (and buying on margin) creates quick wealth Warren Harding’s “Return to Normalcy” (meaning life before WW I) and "America first" campaign encouraged industrialization and a strong economy, independent of foreign influence Reduced taxes – tax burden of middle Americans decrease, while most lower income Americans were relieved of their tax burden altogether Increased production efficiencies – assembly line production

CAUSES OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION Impact of tariffs on world trade – high tariffs limited foreign trade and investment and were a barrier to European countries repaying the debts they owed the U.S. following World War I Stock market speculation – buying stocks on margin (needing only 10% of the price of a stock to be able to complete the purchase) led to rampant speculation (occurs when investors buy shares of stock in a company for the sole purpose of selling them once they increase in value), which led to falsely high stock prices Bank failures – once the stock market crashed, fearful that banks would fail, millions of Americans began to withdraw their money. Virtually overnight, they put thousands of banks in peril. The more money Americans withdrew, the more banks failed, and the more banks failed, the more money Americans withdrew. Banks were not secure and the money in them was not insured if banks failed. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve System – the "Fed" indirectly sets interest rates because it loans money, at a base rate, to commercial banks. In 1928 and 1929, the Fed raised interest rates to try to curb Wall Street speculation.

GENRES OF ART, MUSIC, AND LITERATURE Literature – Langston Hughes (Harlem Renaissance), F. Scott Fitzgerald Great Gatsby) Music – Jazz, Louis Armstrong Art/Photography – Modernism, Surrealism, Art Deco

CULTURAL MOVEMENTS IN ART, MUSIC, AND LITERATURE Tin Pan Alley – known for an era of songwriting when many musical ideas mixed together to form American Popular Music (started in late 1800s in New York City) Harlem Renaissance – African American literature, art, music, dance, and social commentary began to flourish in Harlem, a section of New York City. More than a literary movement, the Harlem Renaissance exalted the unique culture of African Americans and redefined African American expression.